5 Nuns in New Jersey Break Away Over Break With Tradition

Five cloistered nuns are protesting at their monastery here over the relaxation of rigid monastic lifestyles rooted in the 16th century.

Since Tuesday, the five have secluded themselves in the monastery's second-floor infirmary, fearful they face eviction from the monastery because of their opposition to the recent introduction of a television, classical music and brighter lighting in the prayer chapel.

To the five sisters, these 20th-century society elements are distractions to their dedication to solitude, silence and daily contemplative prayer, and the abandonment of the reclusive principles of their order, the Discalced Carmelite Nuns, founded in 1562.

The dispute here, experts say, is part of a broader clash between strict traditionalists and reformers in cloistered Carmelite monasteries throughout the world. Struggle Over Identity

It began with the broad changes Vatican II brought to the Roman Catholic Church in the 1960's. ''They're really struggling over their identity,'' said Dr. Keith J. Egan, head of religious studies at St. Mary's College at Notre Dame University and a corresponding fellow at the Institute of Carmelite Studies in Rome.

''Some of the sisters, particularly many in North America, want to give a more modern interpretation of the enclosure and be in dialogue with the world,'' Dr. Egan said. ''Others want to return to 16th century-type observances. To them, the new interpretations of a more open contemporary style of life is not faithful to their vocation.''

The leader of the protest here at the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel Monastery, Sister John of the Cross, is a 28-year-old strict devotee of the founder of the order, St. Teresa of Avila.

During a brief conversation with reporters today, she vowed the five would remain in the infirmary until the Vatican takes up their complaint. Seeking Help From Rome

''We'll stay until we hear from Rome,'' Sister John said. ''We're very confident Rome will help us.''

That she was talking to reporters is considered extraordinary because cloistered Carmelites traditionally shun the secular world and avoid physical association with outsiders.

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Since the protest started, Sister John has spoken with reporters by telephone. But today she spoke briefly to reporters gathered in the chapel beneath the second-floor infirmary. She remained out of sight and spoke through an iron grate in the chapel ceiling.

Sister John said the protesters had been ''persecuted'' for maintaining ''fidelity'' to their vocations.

''There hasn't been one aspect of our day that hasn't been changed,'' she said.

Later, in a brief telephone conversation, she said the television, the tape player and the chapel lighting were symbols of distractions to prayer and created an atmosphere disruptive to prayer. A 'Breakdown of Our Life'

''It's just a total breakdown of our entire life,'' she said. The 13 cloistered Carmelites here pray about five hours a day, for the most part in solitude. They are allowed to talk during work and recreation periods and their meals.

Although officials of the Paterson Diocese said philosophical differences have festered at the 62-year-old monastery for several years, those differences have apparently sharpened since a new prioress, or mother superior, Sister Teresa-Hewitt, was brought to the monastery in August 1987. Her predecessor, a traditionalist named Marie Therese, was sent to a Carmelite monastery in Verdun, France.

Sister Teresa has declined to comment and, through an aide, referred inquiries to the diocese.

A diocesan statement yesterday said that the dispute was ''agonizing'' and that it was caused ''by a difference of philosophy about contemporary religious life and personality differences.'' The head of the diocese, Bishop Frank J. Rodimer, is trying to resolve the conflict, the statement said.

It said the protesters had agreed to move to other Carmelite monasteries ''in which they can live out their vocation in peace and solitude.''

On Tuesday, the statement said, the protesters fled to the infirmary when diocesean authorities came to talk to them about relocating.

''The sisters are not being evicted,'' the statement said.

The protesters, however, say they are not willing to leave, said Sister Eliane, a non-cloistered Carmelite who serves as a spokesman for the monastery, but also says she is in sympathy with the five nuns.

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A version of this article appears in print on October 8, 1988, on Page 1001030 of the National edition with the headline: 5 Nuns in New Jersey Break Away Over Break With Tradition. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe